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Dive Review of Buceo Resort in
Philippines/Anilao

Buceo Resort: "Great Critter Diving Without All the Garbage", Apr, 2019,

by Richard J. Troberman, WA, US (Contributor Contributor 13 reports with 4 Helpful votes). Report 10966 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments I did this trip with "Our Beloved Seas" who booked the entire resort for seven days before we moved on to the Philippine Siren and Tubbataha Reef. Accomodations were excellent, except for the steps. I had a "Superior" room to myself (for which I paid modest extra for single supplement). The resort also offers "Standard" and "Deluxe" rooms. The rooms are built up a steep hillside (common at dive resorts in Anilao), and it was 87 steps up to my room from the dive center, bar and restaurant. Thankfully, resort staff caried my large bags up to my room, which was spacious and comfortable and had a small balcony with a nice ocean view. The AC worked well, and the room also had an efficient ceiling fan. Outside temperatures reached 95+, but the room stayed cool and comfortable. Mini fridge in each room, with fresh water provided daily. Large updated bathroom with a large walk-in shower. Buceo Resort also features a nice pool (2), and a full service spa. Free wifi available (strongest at restaurant/bar, weaker in rooms).

Buceo normally offers four 60 minute dives a day. Our group requested three 70+ minute dives per day instead, which Buceo happily accommodated. Night dives, a Mandarin fish dive, and a "Black Water" night dive were also available upon request. Dives are done from filipino "bangkas" (small but stable outriggers). Dive staff loads BCs, tanks and fins onto the boats. We had four divers and two dive guides on each dive. Good shore facilities for gearing up (all dive gear is stored at dive center in assigned hanging space and bin). Lots of outdoor showers, and places to hang gear to dry between dives. Breakfast at 7:00am, then two dives in the morning before lunch, followed by an afternoon dive and occasional night dive. Depending on the dive location, we often spent surface interval between the first and second dive on the boat, but sometimes returned to resort between dives.

Anilao is known for excellent critter diving, and did not disappoint. Although similar to Lembeh and Ambon for muck diving, we didn't have to deal with all of the garbage one usually finds in those places. Guides were helpful at finding things, but were environmentally sensitive, and didn't disturb or reposition animals. Highlights included several types of octopus, including blue-ringed, mototi, mimic and wonderpus; hairy frogfish (many); ambon scorpionfish; flamboyant cuttlefish; many other bizarre bottom dwellers; and several endemic fish species. Also had an amazing assortment of nudibranchs, including the spectacular miamira alleni.

Buceo Resort was very reasonably priced, and relatively easy to get to. I paid approximately $2,000 (including modest upgrade for single supplement) for seven nights, with six and a half days of diving and three meals a day (not including tip). Entire resort staff went out of their way to accomodate all reasonable requests. Food (buffet style) was good and plentiful. Egg and omelet bar at breakfast. Lots of fresh fruit (especially mangos). I would definitely go back.




Websites Buceo Resort   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Australia, PNG, Palau, Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Indonesia (Bali, Komodo, Bima Bay, North Sulawesi, Lembeh, Ambon, Raja Ampat, Cenderawasih Bay, Mapia Atoll, Triton Bay, Alor, Borneo), Philippines, Hawaii, Galapagos, Cayman Islands, Grand Turk, St. Vincent, Bahamas, Bimini, Florida Keys.
Closest Airport Manila Getting There Flew from Seattle to Tokyo to Manila on ANA. Overnighted at Marriott Hotel and Resort (which is directly across the street from the airport) where I met my group. Buceo Resort provided ground transportation (vans) from the Marriott to the resort.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 82-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 20-50 Ft/ 6-15 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions No deco; 70+ minutes
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 2 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments Excellent camera facilities. One of the best camera rooms I've ever encountered. Large and spacious, with individual stations for each diver with ample power outlets, an individual light, and air gun at each station, plus large storage areas both above and below each station.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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